True Colors (The Masks #1)(31)
“What a jerk.”
“I know.” I hugged the sleeping bag to my chest, before placing it on top of the neat pile of linen. I’d put it away later. Pointing to the couch, I invited Eric to sit down while I pulled a beanbag over and perched on the floor beside him. “Carter is a jerk and I’m so mad at him.”
“Did it make you glad you’d read them?”
I smiled, knowing what he was getting at. “Yeah, I guess. I mean I know that I can help people. Libby is testament to that, but...I don’t know, she was pretty annoyed that I tried to get involved.”
Eric shuffled closer, dropping off the couch so he could sit right in front of me. “But she listened to you.”
“I suppose. Man, if Carter knew what I’d said though. He hangs out with a lot of my friends, I don’t want to cause any waves.”
Eric’s brow dipped as he ran a finger up my arm sending my brain into frizzle mode again.
“A few ripples never hurt anybody,” he whispered. His voice was so soft and sexy. Was he making a play for me right now? Oh man, I hoped so.
I tried to stop my voice from shaking. “But what if I see something really big one day...something sinister or scary?” I was thinking of Liam, but I couldn’t say it aloud. I knew Eric didn’t know Liam, but he was part of my group, not to mention Indie's boyfriend. I didn't want to speak badly of him. I didn't want to hurt or betray her either. Besides, what if I’d just imagined it? Maybe she’d been worried about something else. “I don’t want to meddle where I don’t belong.”
“You’ll know what to do, just like you did with Libby.” Thankfully Eric was looking at his finger trailing down my arm rather than my face. I didn’t want to mention what I’d seen. I didn’t want to waste my time with Eric talking about how the nicest guy in school might actually be a depraved hard ass.
I was worried about Indie and I wanted to help her, but there was nothing I could do tonight.
I focused on the feel of Eric’s finger trailing up and down my arm. He was watching me now, a soft expression on his face that I forced myself not to decipher.
“You’re trying not to read me right now, aren’t you?” His eyes narrowed perceptively.
I pressed my lips together and dipped my head.
His fingers caught my chin and gently nudged it. I looked back up at him, drinking in his soulful gaze. His eyes filled with tenderness. “I was thinking how nice this is and how much I want to kiss you right now.”
“You want to kiss me?” I squeaked.
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “Why? Is that weird?”
“No, it’s just... You’re...you’re Eric Shore.”
“And is there something wrong with kissing Eric Shore?”
“No. Most definitely not.” I raised my eyebrows. “But...” I scratched the side of my nose, slightly flustered. My cheeks were quickly heating with color as I smiled. “You’re like Hercules and I’m just...the girl next door.” I shrugged.
He placed his hand on the side of my face. “Caity, you are the girl next door and I’ve liked you ever since I moved in.”
“How is that possible? You only started talking to me a week ago.”
"I’ve been watching you for a while now, and not in a creepy stalker way, just in the I hope to get to know you better way.”
I couldn’t help raising my right eyebrow the way my dad does. “I hope you weren’t drooling over me or anything.”
His thumb rubbed over my cheek and his nose wrinkled with a grin. “Haha.”
“Seriously though, why have you only started being nice to me now? It’s hard to get to know someone when you never actually talk to them.” I touched his watch, gently running my fingers down his forearm.
He looked embarrassed to say it. I could tell by his blush. “I've seen the way you interact with your family. Maybe I know you better than you realize."
"That still doesn't explain why you've never tried to strike up a conversation."
His lips pursed to the side with a soft huff. "Every time I had the chance to talk to you, someone would show up... that blonde friend of yours who mentally undresses me every chance she gets. The one who's always trying force you into being something you're not."
I tensed, hating the way he sounded like Mom. I didn't have a chance to respond, because he kept going with a small frown on his face. "Or that idiot boyfriend with his arrogant strut. I hate the way he always checks you out. Never looks at your beautiful face, always your body.” He sighed, his fingers lightly gripping my face while his voice deepened to a soft carress. "Last weekend on the beach was the first time we've ever been alone together, without your friends or my nosy little sisters. You were so real and vulnerable and I couldn't help it. I had to talk to you. I had to somehow let you know that you've gotten under my skin.” He drank me in as he leaned towards me, his lips cresting with a smile.
I couldn’t believe it. I mean I seriously could not believe it.
Eric Shore!
My teeth brushed over my lower lip as I quelled the urge to bust out with nervous giggles. “I never thought a guy like you would be interested in me.” My voice trailed off as his lips hovered before mine.
“Well, Caity Davis, you thought wrong.”